CHANGES to charges at two Hereford car parks are to be implemented from February.

An option for short-stay parking is being introduced at Merton Meadow car park, which has historically been designated as a commuter car park and priced with long-stay options.

However, in a report, Herefordshire Council said following the development of the Old Market shopping centre – along with changes to Merton Meadow itself – the need has arisen for short-stay parking.

There will now be an option to park for £1 per hour for up to four hours, while the current all-day charge of £5 will not be altered.

Weekly pay and display tickets are also to be introduced at the car park which will cost £20 for five days.

Changes are also on the way for the Maylord Orchards car park which will no longer be a pay on exit car park but will be pay and display.

The report states that the current pay on exit equipment was installed in 2010 at a cost of £120,000 and has an estimated workable life of between seven and 10 years – so will probably need to be replaced in the near future.

The cost of installing a new pay on exit system, the council says, would cost around £100,000 while pay and display machines would be around £20,000.

It currently costs £60,000 more in annual revenue costs for maintaining the pay on exit scheme than pay and display.

The report states that views on the proposals were sought from Hereford City Council, Hereford Business Improvement District (HBID), Old Market, Maylord shopping centre and Halo Leisure.

"Generally responses have been positive, although there is concern that the reintroduction of pay and display payment in the Maylord car park may have a negative impact by discouraging people from browsing in shops in case they overstay their paid for period," it states.

"This concern can be mitigated by the fact that car park users who choose to pay by phone, an option available in all pay and display car parks, can simply extend their stay without the need to return to the vehicle."

Other changes include a reduced tariff of £3 per day at St Martins 2 car park, which the council say is underused.

There will also be reduced off peak season tickets, from £150 per year to £75 and from £40 per quarter to £25.